Sheet or signature feeding and gathering



June 27, 1939. P. E. KLEINEBERG ET AL 2,163,732

SHEET OR SIGNATURE FEEDING AND GATHERING 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 12, 1957 MMM June 27, 1939. P. E. KLEM-:BERG 'ar AL' 2,163,732

I SHEET OR SIGNATURE FEEDING AND GATHERING I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, '1957 BY= I. w fu www June 27, 1939. P. E. KLEINEBERG E1' AL 2,163,732

SHEET OR SIGNATURE FEEDING AND GATHERIG 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. l2, 1937 @NN l1 fkk/ff i v w INVENToRs.

- c@ wl A TToRNEYs.

June 27, 1939. P. E. KLEINEBERG Er AL 2,163,732

SHEET 0R SIGNATURE FEEDING AND GATHERING Filed Aug. 12, 1937` 5 Sheets-Sheetl 4 ,IN VEN TOR5.

P. E. KLElNEBl-:RG Er AL 2,163,732

.lum 27, 1939.

SHEET 0R SIGNATURE FEEDING AND GATHERING 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 12, 19:57

INVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 27, 1939 r SHEET R SIGNATURE FEEDING AND GATHERING Paul E. Kleineberg, Paul Schweizer and Andre W. Wilks, Easton, Pa., assignors to T. W. &, C. B. Sheridan Company, New York, N Y., a corporation of New York Application August 12, 1937, Serial No. 158,684

32 Claims. (Cl. 270-54) This invention 4relates to sheet or signature feeding and gathering, and involves both novel apparatus and method therefor. The invention includes the handling of signatures or sheets for the feeding thereof in succession from a stack. or supply hopper, and, in the case of signatures, includes the so-called insert gathering or saddlegathering thereof, consisting in the opening up thereof during transfer from a series of stacks, and the setting or depositing of them straddlewise upon a suitable saddle of the kind having conveying 4oi` pushing means advancing the accumulating signatures along the line of stacks while a group or book is progressively built up to completion, followed by saddle-stitching or stapling through the center line.

Among the most pertinent prior art structures known to applicants are the following. In the patent of Kleineberg No. 2,082,064 of June 1, 1937, is shown an apparatus and method for outfeeding signatures or other sheets from an upright stack or pile in which the signatures lie horizontally and the pile rests on a central support, each first or bottom signature being first separated downwardly at one edge by a suction detaching device and gripped and pulled retractingly a short distance at that edge and released while still bearing on the central .support and then gripped at its opposite edge and pulled advancingly out of the stack by a rotary drum and transferred away for delivery to -a gatherer conveyor of the kind on which the signatures are accumulated atwise to build up a side stitched pamphlet. Said patent shows for each stack two gripper sets. around a large drum, as does Pachter patent, Reissue No. 14,560 of Dec. 10, 1918; while Kleineberg No. 2,020,321 of Nov. 12, 1935, shows a single gripper set on a smaller drum, extract- .ing each signature and transferring it around' for delivery to the traveling conveyor. Various other patents show the outfeeding of signatures from the bottom of a pile, and several of these show the transfer of signatures to a gatherer conveyor of the 'saddle type, with rolling means to open centrally each signature before delivery. These known mechanisms are not wholly satisfactory as to the holding and handlingv of the stack or the outfeeding of signatures or the transferring, opening and delivery of signatures, and it is an object hereof-` tol improve these features and the general efficiency of operation, as Well las speed or rate of operation and output.'

The stack handling and signature outfeeding method and means of the present invention are of special character cooperating with the method or means for transferring, opening and depositing the successive signatures astride the saddle; and the invention includes such entire combination as Well as subcombinations relating to the handling of the stack, the outfeeding of the .signatures and their transferring, opening and delivery to the saddle, especially for signatures of the kind having a front extension or lap designating the center or opening place.

A particular object of the present invention is to obviate the diiculties of removing the bottom sheet or signature from a piled stack resting by gravity ,on a bottom support. Another object is to facilitate the adding of continued supplies to the stack. Further objects include improvement in mode of operation, reliability of action and convenience of control of the respective parts of the apparatus. Other objects and advantages will' be explained in the hereinafter following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention or will be understood by those conversant with the subject.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a general left elevation view of a sheet or signature outfeeding and gathering machine embodying the present invention', with certain longitudinal parts and shafts shown in transverse vertical section, the front of the machine being considered to be at the right hand side of Fig. 1, Fig. 1a shows a portion of Fig. 1 with the parts in a different stage or position. v Fig. 2, in similar left elevation, shows a detail of`mechanism only partly appearing inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, illustrating one complete unit or section of the machine and part of another section, it being understood that there may be an indefinite number of such sections, according to the number of hoppers-or stacks of signatures desired.

AFig. 4 is a left elevation view of the mecha- Anism for progressively advancing or feeding the stack., Fig'.- 4EL corresponds with part of Fig. 4,

showing feed control details .on a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a similar left viewof the mechanism for detachingthe lower edge of the first or front signature in the stack from thel succeeding ones. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the mechanism for repressing and holding back the signatures behind the first signature. Fig. 6a corresponds with part of Fig. 6 showing details of repressor operation. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the mechanism for operating the retractor which partly pulls idownwardly the first signature prep ratory to its being engaged and extracted by i upper edge.

REISSUED y JUN 25 1940 4 known or conventional type.

Fig. 'Ia is a left elevation supplemental to Fig. 1, showing the means operating the signature opening gripper.

Fig. 8 is a left elevation of part of the signature extracting mechanism or cylinder with gripper; Fig. 9 is a front elevation thereof; and Fig. l0-is a partial right elevation thereof. Fig. 8B is a left hand .view and Fig. 9a a bottom view, in diagram, showing the gripping action of the lap gripper.

Fig. 11 is a. diagrammatic perspective View of part of a typical signature of the lap type adapted to be handled by the present invention. Fig. lla is a view like Fig. 11, showing another type of lap signature.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the mode of upright stacking of such signatures, with a few of them resting atwise against the front abutment and those beyond bowed or curved in accordance with this invention, and with the first or front signature partly retracted downwardly and in readiness to be extracted upwardly. Fig. 13 is a section on the line I3-I3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 shows diagrammatically an extracted signature being transferred around toward delivery position; while Fig. 15 shows similarly a later position of the signature, centrally opened in advance of delivery; and Fig. 16 shows the opened signature at the moment of delivery and about to settle down uponthe signatures already accumulated on the 'saddle below.

In this specification such terms as front and back, right and left and the like are employed in a relative sense, for convenience, and are not intended as limitations as to positions, directions and the like of various parts.

The general parts of the machine include the lower frame I2 having a base or legs, not shown,

and above it an upper frame I3 containing bearings for various longitudinal shafts. At the rear of the upper frame are brackets I4 on which is a loading shelf I5 arranged to support supplies of signatures in preparation for their rear loading into the respective hoppers. Various other brackets or extensions of the frame are provided for various purposes, among which may be mentioned a high rear bracket I'I, a high front bracket I8 giving support to the extracting drum, and a front extension I9 thereof giving support to the opening cylinder. Beneath the extracting drum and in front of the hopper is borne the longitudinal main shaft 2|, making preferably one rotation for each cycle, that is, for each signature fed from the stack to the saddle.

The saddle mechanism 23 may be of any It comprises a traveling band or conveyor chain 24 upon which are mounted saddles 25, adapted to receive the opened `signatures and convey them along. The chain has also outstanding pins or projections 26 at the two sides for pushing along the accumulating groups of signatures.

From the signature stack S individual signatures s are separated, extracted and transferred to a point above the saddle mechanism., on which they form groups G. During transfer each signature is opened up and thrust downwardly for delivery upon the saddle, in coordinated timing with the travel of the conveyor pins or. pushers 26. The signature handling or movement is indicated by the diagrams Figs. 12 to 16.

The signatures are preferably ofthe so-called lap type, indicated in Fig. 11, the original printed sheet being so folded as to form the signature, but with one portion adjacent the center made f excessively wide so as to protrude as an extension or lap L of, for example, 1A; inch width. This facilitates the mechanical handling of each signature and insures its proper opening at its center before being delivered to the saddle. Fig. 11 shows the redoubled or closed back edge s' of the signatureffand at its front or open edge, at one side, the closed half portion s2, and the other half comprising portions s3 and s4, the portions s3 being the one that is longer than the others and affords the extension L. This is inerely representative as many forms of signatures may be folded with a center lapl e. g., a simple once-folded sheet with one side or ply longer than the other.

A signature as an element of a book may be relatively thick or as thin as a leaflet of two plies; sometimes even a single sheet is fed into a b ook; therefore the word signature may be considered in a broad sense to include even a singlesheet, except where it is herein otherwise described, as in having a closed or back edge or portion, or an openable edge or margin, or as being opened or saddle-gathered. So far as feeding from a hopper is concerned this is typically for gathering but may be for folding, printing or other book making operations.

Having described the loading table or supply shelf l5 and the receiving and conveying saddle 23, the various mechanisms in between them will next be described in the following general order: A. Signature hopper or .stack holder, loaded from the back shelf and holding the signatures standing edgewise or upright, preferably with back edges down' and openable margin or portion up and slightly inclined frontwardly, and preferably in rearwardly bowed condition, or mainly so.

B. Stack feeder, supporting the stacked signafures and progressing them frontward, either by /gravity on an inclined support, or preferably by a traveling support movable under regulation toward a front abutment.

C. Signature detacher, for the first or front l gage that there confines the second signature.

F. Signature separator, deects frontwardly the retracted or lowered top edge of the rst signature.

G. Signature extractor, grips; the separated top edge and pulls the front signature up and out for transfer away from the hopper, preferably by the circular motion of a drum.

H. Signature opening and delivering means,A

comprising preferably the extracting or transfer drum and an adjacent device or cylinder, cooperating for opening out the extracted signature and releasing it for deposit astride the saddle. As usual, the center signature of each pamphlet is opened and laid first on the saddle, followed by others in order and finally the outermost signature or cover, all then to be'center stapled or 75 saddle stitched and flnallytrimmed, which removes the laps.

A. Signature hopper 'Ille signature hopper comprises certain fixed but adjustable parts. Thus, in each unit, there is a bottom plate 30 at each side receiving the sides of the back edges of the signatures, each of these bottom plates having adjacent to it a vertical plate or low wall 3l. Spaced above the low side plates 3| are side guides or walls 32 bebetween which the signatures stand edgewise forming a horizontal stack. 'I'he side guides -or gages 32 are set somewhat closer together than the length of a signature. so that with thin or limber signatures, they or at least the bulk of them, take a bowed or arched posture, with concave side rearward. By this arrangement the bowed signatures are stifIened against collapse so that they readily retainl their substantially upright position, being however preferably tilted slightly forwardly from the vertical as shown. With quite stiff signatures the bowing may be omitted.

The stacked signatures are thus substantially self supporting, and they require no pressing member, abutment orstop to be placed behind each added supply. This plan therefore conveniently allowsv each hopper to be loaded at will from the rear supply shelf without any readjustinent of the mechanism.l The spacing of the side walls or guides 32 may be about V; to 1 inch less than the length of the signatures being handled, depending upon the dimensions and character of the signature and other factors. It is sufficient to produce the curving form at the lower part only of the signatures, the convexity tapering ofi and disappearing along the top edges which may be straight, or substantially so, as shown.

By this described arrangement of signatures bowed backwardly at both ends and set substantially upright within the hopper, not only are i the signatures stiffened to hold their edgewise position, but each signature thus has its center of gravity thrown substantially back of its central portion or center of area. This permits an appreciable forward incline to be given to the` signatures as Fig. 1 shows without causing undue forward gravity pressure of the stack. In other words the stacked signatures remain nearly upright and lean forward only lightly and without creating substantial forward pressure on the parts in front, which condition facilitates the removing from the front of the stack of the first or foremost signature.

Referring further to the hopper side walls' or guides 32, these preferably do not extend frontward to the full extent of the (stack, but are terminated substantially` short thereof as shown.

By this special arrangement, while the most of the signatures are bowed concavely rearward as described, a substantial number of them=at the front, from several to several dozen according to thickness, are released from the side walls and escape confinement and bending. In other words, in front of the point where the hopper side walls terminate, a number of signatures may stand in substantially flattened condition, bowed negligibly or not at all, being thus separated forwardly from the bulk of the signatures along the side edges, while retaining up and down contact at the middle, and the released or flattened group of .several frontmost signatures being confined vsuccessively to extracting position.

and held by the front hopper parts to be described.

It is believed to be novel to provide a hopper with side members. gages or walls arranged to confine edgewise-standing signatures or sheets so that they take a rearwardly concave curvature; also to abridge or terminate this stack constraining formation short of a front abutment so that several signatures at the front are free or flat and best fitted for extraction.

In each hopper there arev shown, for supporting the bottom plates 30 and side plates 3l and 32 a pair of opposite carriages I33 in the .form of brackets supported upon alongitudinal rod or axle 34 and in front of it a second such axle 35. The brackets may beconnected adjustably to rod 34 as by split hubs. For adjustment the axle 34 may be a rotary shaft with right and left threads engaging the respective carriages 33 in each unit, so that by turning this shaft the hopper side walls are symmetrically adjustable towardand from each other to adapt them to signatures of varying lengths.

In front of the `stacked signatures and approximately near but preferably somewhat below the middle of the frontmost signature is a front abutment or main stop plate 38 mounted on a stationary horizontal longitudinal bar 39, these in effect constituting the front member or wall of the hopper, but being abridged above and below to permit the detaching, retracting, separating and extracting operations to be described. The main or front abutment 38 may extend horizontally the full front lwidth of the hopper and is shownset at a slight frontward incline from the vertical, so that the signatures assume the same incline for the reasons alreadyl explained. It receives the slight stack forward pressure at the middle of the front signature.

Above and in line with the abutment 38 is a signature top edge front stop plate 4| mounted on a lonigtudinal bar 42, the bar being above the `top edge of the signatures but the stop plate extending down adjustably to overlap slightly and give front support to the top portion of the signature stack. The bar 42 is shown as carrying also an adjustable fixed gage or guard plate 43 overlying the top edges of the frontmost signatures, confining them vertically and ensuring that the second signature can not be shifted upwardly with the first.

Also'in substantial line with the stop plate 4I and abutment 38 is a feeler member or4 gage B8 which registers with the front position of the lower edge of the first or front signature near its center, this member being movable and employed to regulate the feed of the stack as will be described.

B. Stack feeder The signature stack S in each hopper is not fed down by gravity as in the Kleineberg patent, but must be advanced progressively front-I ward during operation to bring the signatures A slant might be used to cause or assist feed but controlled feed is preferred, and the following merchanism is shown. Y, The weight of the stack is taken upon a feed belt 45 preferably centrally arranged in each unit and operated to progress gradually frontward with the signature while their corners slide along on or above the bottom plates 30. The belt 45 may be of flexible material or fabric, and held taut to afford a firm support for the stack, and it may travel along' on top-of a fixed support 46.

it may be corrugated or faced with rubber roughened for better traction on the signature. These and associated parts of the hopper may be mounted on a carriage Gl' supported removably on the axles 3d and 35. The stack belt or band l5 may pass around front and rear pulleys i9 and 50, and it may be deflected by means of front and rear idler Vpulleys 5l and 52, and the slack taken up by a device 50a.

The hopper bottom belt is representative of any means to progress frontwardly the stacked upright signatures; it being a supporting member transmitting the feed action to the stack, and while a jogging feed may serve, a frontward travel is preferred.

The gradual frontward advance of the stack belt may be effected from the shaft 5t carrying the front pulley @9, as separately shown in Fig. 4, this drive mechanism being independent for each unit of the machine. The shaft 5t is mounted on the carriage l1 and carries a ratchet Wheel 55 having fine teeth for short intermittent forward movements. The ratchet may be advanced by one tooth at a time by means of a pawl 56 pivoted upon a rockarm 51 and pulled toward the ratchet by a spring 58. The hub of arm 5l carries also a second arm or cam lever 59 which is pulled by a spring 60 to hold its free or following end -against an open cam @i mounted on the main shaft 2|. The lever 51-59 is fulcrumed on a longitudinal axle 82.

By these drive connections each turn of the stack feed cam 6| oscillates the pawl 5B to advance the pulley i9 and belt 45, thus moving the a signature stack bodily frontward. Since this movement must keep pace with the removal of signatures from the front of the stack the following feed regulating means isshown. Between the main pawl 56 and ratchet 55 is shown a guard nger or shading pawl 63, adapted to overlie a ratchet tooth and prevent engagement thereof by the main pawl, so that when the guard is moved inward the stack feed ceases. 'I'he guard is carried on an arm 66 pivoted at 65 on the carriage M and having an upwardly extending arm 66 pulled rearward by a light 'spring 51 and having at its top end a feeler or gage 68 preferably in the form of a roller over which the lower edge of the first signature may be frontwardly detached. By this device, when the stack is fed frontward, it contacts and thrusts frontwardly the lightly mounted and easily yielding feeler 68, thus thrusting the guard 63 into position and rendering inoperative the feed. The feed Will resume with the removal of a few signatures.

When the hopper is empty the feeler lever 54-66 bears against the front end of the feed carriage fil.

Adjacent to these parts is shown 'a member l@ having an upstanding finger or hook for assisting in the operation of detaching signatures that are thin. it has no connection to the feeler but is preferably fixed to the. hopper by its slotted shank and a bolt 7|. Its counterpart is known in ordinary gathering machines, serving to hold back the signature behind the one being detached. i v

C. Signature detacher and', firstly, the devices acting upon the lower edge of the front signature, commencing with the detaching or lower separating device.

The signature detacher may be of the conventional hsuction type similar in general to that in said Kleineberg patent. It comprises two or more suction cups l5 operating upon the front signature at its lower front edge, preferably at points near the middle of the edge and adjacent to the retracting grippers to be described. The separator hooks l@ aid this operation.

Each' suction piece or detacher 75 may be mounted on a hollow arm 'i6 swinging on a hollow bracket il having pneumatic connections not shown, but timed4 to apply and release the suction in coordination with the back and front swinging movements of the detacher. Above the bracket il is an upper arm i8, see Fig. 5, to which l is pivoted a link or slide i9 yoked to straddle the main shaft 2l and having a follower 80 engaging the cam groove @l in a cam disk 82 on the main shaft. This cam in each cycle gives the necessary back and front swinging movements of the detacher at each side by which the front signature lower edge is engaged and swung frontwardly to detach it away from the second signature as shown, in position to permit the stack repressing device to operate behind the detached signature and to permit the retracting device to grip and lower the signature.

D. Stack represser l Cooperating with the signature detacher and the retractor is a stack represser in the form of fingers 55, one at each side adjacent the signature corners, and operated as indicated in Fig. 6 to rise and enter between the detached first signature and the second signature and to thrust backwardly on the latter Lby a pressure sufficient to bow and stien somewhat the second and several subsequent signatures. The effect of this back pressure is to retain frictionally this group of signatures against tendency to retraction downward with the rst signature; and this arrangement at the same time reducing the pressure or friction on the first signature and facilitating its retraction and extraction.

Each of the repressing fingers 85 is shown mounted on a lever 86 which carries a roller 8l by which the lever is swung, the lever being pivoted at the top end of an arm 88, the hub of which rocks upon a xed axle 39 and has a frontwardly extending cam lever d, the follower of which engages the periphery of a cam 9i on the main shaft 2i. The cam effected movements therefore cause the represser lever and finger to shift backwardly and frontwardly. The roller 81 is shown resting upon a straight surface or xed cam dwell 93 which holds the lever up and the finger in repressing position. A spring 94 holds the level` and roller down upon the dwell. Forward of the dwell is an inclined surface 95. The surfaces 53, 95 are formed on a xed member or bracket 96. From this description it Will be clear that when the cam Si has allowed arm 90 to swing down, the arm 98 will have thrust frontwardly the lever 86 and thus cause the roller 87 to pass from the dwell surface 93 to the incline 95, thus moving forward and lowering the repressin'g iinger to await the`detaching of the next succeeding signature. As `soon as another signature is detached at its lower edge the levers 86 are thrust rearward causing the two fingers 85 to rise and press rearwardly upon the signature behind the front one.

E. Signature retractor The signature retractor next grips and pulls partly down by its lower edge the first signature,

thus to release its top edge from the front stop 4|, see Figs. 1 and 7. A rock shaft 98 carries the retracting grippers for a number or all of the hoppers. At each hopper on the rock shaft is a hub and arm 99 or a pair of them on which are mounted two grippers, one at each side, to grip and retract the signature. Each gripper comprises a relatively ilxed jaw and a swingable or openable jaw |0"|. One, as |0|, is shown in the form of a segment, concentric with the rock shaft. 'I'he gripper rocks bodily into the elevated position shown in Fig. 7 and down to the lowered position of Fig. 1. The movable gripper jaw or linger |0| is pivoted at |02 to the arm 99 to swing slightly between signature gripping and releasing positions. To rock the shaft 98 it is provided with a rock arm |03 actuated by a yoked link or slide |04, straddling the main shaft 2| for guidance and carrying a follower |05 engaging in the groove of a cam disk |01 on the main shaft. Bythis' arrangement the cam |06 swings the gripper bodily between signature engaging position and retracted or lowered position.

It is an advantage to have the rear jaw 00 relatively fixed and short, while the front jaw |00 is pivoted for the opening andclosing and has substantial length, curved concentrically with the bodily swing of the gripper. Not only is the mechanical actuation improved by this arrangement but the signatureis more reliably picked from the suction detacher.

For opening and closing the retracting gripper |00, |0|, its movable jaw or finger |0| is provided, beyond its pivot, with a tail or extension |09 having an outer or lower contour substantially concentric with the gripper rockshaft 98. This gripper tail is acted upon by a spring ||0 which presses th tail in a direction normally to open the jaw to a suitably limited position.

To close the gripper the concentric jaw tail |09 is shown engaged by a roller carried on a lever arm I2, the hub I3 of which is mounted loosely on an axle ||4, these parts so arranged that by rocking thehub andl lever the gripper tail may be swung and the gripper closed orallower to open, in any position `of the grippen/ Connections for closing the ygripper may be as follows.` Attached to the hub of arm ||2 is a depending arm ||5 and alongside of this is a cooperating arm IIB. The arms ||6 for all theu hoppers may be fast on the axle ||4, now acting as a rockshaft. Connected with the arm ||6 or fast on the rockshaft is a rockarm ||1 swung by a yoked link or slide ||9 Whichstraddles the main shaft 2| and carries a follower ||9 engaged in the cam groove |20 of a disk cam |2| on the main shaft.

To cushion the gripping action and aiford a yield in the gripping of each signature there is shown a strong spring |23 connecting the arms ||5 and I6, tending to hold them together under the limit of a set screw or stop device |24. By this arrangement when the cam |20 swings the arms and IIB to the front this acts through spring |23 to swing the lever ||2 upwardly so that the roller presses the tail of the gripper jaw 0| to close the gripper with moderate pressureon the signature. This yield serves the purpose of ensuring proper and equal gripping action on signatures of varying thickness alongl the length of the machine, all operated from the same rockshaft. It also presents excessive or destructive gripping pressure by reason of the spring cushion for each gripper.

, the retracting jaw |00, against which the bottom edge of the signature is seen to contact. This shoulder is so arranged that, on each rise of the gripper |00, |0| the shoulder will always engage the bottom edge of the signature. In other words, even if the signature may be slightly too high in the hopper, nevertheless the shoulder will reach up to the signature, and a signature which is correctly positioned will thus be slightly buckled or bulged as the gripper rises to position. The result oi. this action is that the lower edge of the gripper is always accurately positioned for the retracting action and for all subsequent actions, and since this lower edge is the closed or back edge of the signature it follows that the signatures will be uniformly handled in their retraction, extraction, and delivery to the gathering means.

F. Signature separator The next step on each signature is the separating of its upper portion or deflecting it frontwardly from the second signature in preparation for extraction. There is shown a separator or linger |30 which works its way down mechanically between the top of the partly lowered first signature and the next signature in the stack. Fig. 1 shows the separating linger in its lowered posil tion, and the signature s deflected frontwardly and actually engaged by the extracting gripper. I'he signature having been pulled downwardly until its top edge is free of and well below the stop plate 4|, as Fig. 1a shows, the separator is readily able, 'by a light pressure against the second signature, to slide down between 'them as shown. When fully elevated for a-neW operation as in Fig. 1 the separator or deflector preferably has its lower edge resting upon the stop plate 4|, from which it slides down in the next separating operation. A single separator near the center may suffice for effectively defiecting frontward the entire top portionof the signature to be extracted. Each hopper has such a separator.

'I'he connections and operation of the separator |30 may be-as follows. It `is shown pivoted at |3| upon a movable carrier or actuating arm |32 mounted on a longitudinal rock shaft |33 supported in the frame bracket Behind the rock shaft is extended a back rockarm |34 by which the swinging .movements are effected. For purposes of adjustment of throw the rockarm |34 is provided with an adjustable pivot device |35 and to this is pivoted a link |35 extendingfdownwardly to a-cam lever |31, Fig. 2. A spring |30 applied to the lever |31 te'nds to lower the separator |30 and to hold the free end of the lever in contact with the operating cam |39- on the main shaft 2|. As

`the pivoted upper end |3| of the separator swings' up and down it is necessary that the separator should swing on its pivot under proper control. The separator is shown provided with a follower stud or' roll |4| which engages a fixed cam |42 mounted on the bar 42 and of such contour that the separators up and down movements cause the proper swinging movements. The cam |62 is preferably an open cam and a light spring |43 is pro-l vided to hold the follower to the cam, for example a coil spring at the pivot |3 l, affording a light rearward` pressure.

The separator works in the gap between the abutment and top edge stop. It stands at a. slant so that its lower edge or nose represses the second signature and readily enters behind the" rst, which thus is deflected frontwardly to the extractor, the upper edge of the abutment being bent to correspond.

G. Signature extractor The extractor operating to pull out the first signature by its upper edge after release from the stop 4| is shown in the form of a rotary drum |45 carrying extracting grippers |65. The drum is of skeleton construction, as Fig. 3 shows, consisting of two similar drum sections or disks upon or near the cy drical peripheries of which' work the extractin grippers. The shaft |46 of the drum |45 is journalled to turn in the high bracket IB. The drum is driven at uniform speed through a gear |41 carried by its shaft engaging a gear |48 on the main shaft 2|. This gearing is shown in the ratio of 1 to 2, and the drum having two complete sets of grippers, at opposite points of its periphery, there is thus afforded one extracting action per cycle; but manifestly the drum could be geared 1 to 1 with a single set of grippers or-1 to 3 with three sets, etc. The grippers |65 may be operated to separate and deect the front signature, thus acting as both separator and extractor, but for reliable operation the separator |30 also is preferred.

Of course there are to bea series of drums |45 on shaft |46, one for each hopper, and gripping, opening and associated devices for each drum; 1and this is to be understood in the further descripion.

H. Opening and delivering means cylinder shaft |5|, with two idler gears |53 in train between the gear |41 and gear |52 to pro' duce the same downward direction of peripheral movement above the saddle 23. Vhen the extracting drum grippers engage each signature the drumpulls the signature up and out of the hopper and around frontward andythence down between the drum and cylinder, to be there opened and delivered upon the saddle; see Figs. 14 to 16. To maintain each signature in firm contact upon the drum |45 during this travel there are shown endless tapes |55 passing around a substantial part of the extracting drum periphery between extracting and delivering positions, the tapes thence shifting from the drum' over to the opening cylinder |50 and thence around part of the cylinder and back and around an idler pulley |56, located above the drum. In order to take up slack in the tape the pulley |56 is shown mounted on a take-up lever |51 pulled by a spring |56 and mounted on a bracket |59 keyed to a longitudinal frame rod |60.

While the transfer of the procession of extracted signatures Amay be to a more remote Open,-

ing point, preferably the same drum |45 which extracts them carries them directly to a nearby place ofvopening and delivery, thus simplifying and condensing the apparatus; the drum carrying not only the extracting grippers |65 but means |B5 to hold to it one half of each-signature while the opening means diverts the other half.

The general operation of transfer of the extracted signature and its opening and delivering may be as follows. The signature travels around the drum with its` top or open edge in advance, this having the lap portion L determining the middle of the signature. 'I'he holf s3, s4 of the signature that includes the lap is inside, against the drum, and the other or closed half s2 is at the outside. The extracting and transferring grippers grasp both halves, but there are also auxiliary or lap grippers engaging `or holding only the lap half of the signature, and which are closed at the extraction point or between it and delivery point.

When each signature reaches about the point of tangency or nearest approach of the cylinder and drum the extracting grippers open to free the closed half of the signature or that which does not contain the lap, the lap gripper however continuing to hold the lap half of the signature to the drum. The next step is to engage the non-lap half of the signature on the opening cylinder, thus to open centrally` the signature; this being permitted by the switch across of the tapes from the drum to the cylinder. For such purpose the opening cylinder has a gripper 2|0, or pair of them, which engages and grasps the non-lap signature half which has been released from the main drum. 'I'hus beyond or below the point of tangency the two halves of thesignature are caused to travel divergingly, held on drum and cylinder by grippers and 2 |0. This a'c'tion howevercontinues preferably for only a short further travel, just long enough to start the spreading or opening action above the saddle, the grippers then releasing the signature, which is carried further by the drum and tapes and finally settles down properly upon the saddle.

The` extracting drum |45 carries two complete sets of grippers, one set at each side of its circumference. Each set comprises a symmetrical `pair of extracting grippers |65 and a symmetrical pair of lap grippers |85, each of these grippers being shown in the form of fingers or stout strips bent to shape, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 8 to 10. It will be noticed that each main or extracting gripper is substantially longer than or extends beyond the adjacent lap gripper, being thus enabled to reach below the top edge of each signature t'o an extent to grip all portions or plies as Eig. l shows. On the other hand-the lap gripper, being relatively short, is able to engage only the lap L of the signature and thus confine only the lap half of the signature lto the drum. Preferably the grippers do not confine the signature directly against the peripheries of drum sections |45, but are provided with special seats located symmetrically outside of or further apart than the drum sections; the 'main gripper seats |61 being adjacent to the outer sides of the disks and the lap gripper seats |81 being still further outwardly, as Figs. 3 and 9 best show. A desirable distinction between the seats for the respective grippers is that the seat |61 for each main gripper |65 islocated substantially in alinement with the cylindrical surface of the drum so that when each sheet is gripped between the main gripperparts |65 and |61 this is without distortion or deflection of the signature; whereas as will be explained further the seat for the lap gripper is inset substantially below the cylindrical surface, thusl causing inward deflection of the lap half of the signature at the location of each lap gripper, and thus producing a recess between the two halves of the signature well adapted to accommodate the gripper of the opening cylinder to be described.

Each main or extracting gripper is shown as a metal strip or bar bent or curved in a shape to clearv adjacent parts. The shank end of the main gripper is mounted or attached upon a rocking collar or block |69. These blocks a't the two sides are symmetrically attached to a rock shaft or sleeve v|10 turning in a bearing sleeve or cross member |44 constituting part of the drum. 'I'he block or collar |69 also has gear teeth |1| at its left end, thus constituting of it a lpinion, through which the two blocks and the shaft |1 may be oscillated, namelyby a rack |12, toose and open the main gripper. The rack is hown mounted on a rockarm |13 turning loosely on a long bearing stud |14, and its hub having also a second rockarm 15 which may be thrust outwardly for closing the main gripper.

The main gripper closing is preferably performed by a cushion or spring device determining the, gripper pressure. opposed by cam means for opening the gripper. For this purpose the rockarm |15 has' pivoted to it a hollow member |16 constituting part of a swinging link, completed by a rod |11. A strong helical spring |18 is confined on the rod undercompression between the surrounding link part |16 and at the other end a bushing or collar |19 in which slides the rod part of the link. The bushing is threaded into a socket which issgviveiled,l thus allowing for the swinging movementsof the arm |15 and link. By turning the collar |19 the spring stress and pressure is adjustable.

' The spring 18 thereby effects the closing of both of the main grippers |65 -thro gh the described train'of parts |16 to |69. or opening the main grippers and allowing their closingl in proper timing there is shown a follower or roll |82 on the rockarm |13, this bearing against the periphery of a fixed cam or diskv |83. By the shape of the cam |83 therefore, as the gripper mechanism travels around it, with the follower |82 on the cam, it causes the gripper to open widely, and then at gripping position, as in Fig. 1,

' to close completely upon the top--margin of the deflected signature, the gripper remaining closed until, before reaching signature opening position, the cam |83 causes it to relax or lift sufciently to release the signature, leaving the latter held only partlyby the lap gripper.

Each lap gripper |85 is adapted to cooperatewith a seat |81 attached to each drum disk |45.

by a xture |88. Y 'I 'he seat is below the cylindrical surface of thedrum, the gripper therefore depressing the lap half of the signature at the gripping places. set is secured 'to a clamp collar |90 and the right gripper to a clamp collar |9| both of these collars secured to a rockshaft |92 turning in the drum bearings outwards of sleeve |10. lWhen the'shaft is rocked the lap grippers close or open.- being shown in open position in Figs. 1, 3 and 16 andl in closed position in Figs. 1, 3 8 to 10 and 15.

Preferablyv each lap gripper andits seat are inclined or bevelled to accommodate the bend of the signature beyond eachy drum disk |45, as thev left and bottom View diagrams of Figs. 8* and 9F show. Thus the laphalf -L is deected below the The left gripper |85 of each periphery fromA the seat |81 to the edge of the signature, while the non-lap half s2 retains its circumferential form, making a substantial gap to receive theopeningl gripper 2| 0.

For effecting the lap gripper closing and opening movements, the right collar |9| is provided with pinion teeth |93 these engaging an idler pinion |94 which in turn i`s engaged by a'rack |95 provided at the free end of a rockarm |96 turning on the rod or axle |14. From the hub of rockarm extends a second arm |91 through which actuation is performedl in part by a resilient device. 'I'hus a hollow link part |98 is pivoted to the arm |91 and engages with a rod |99, the two constituting a swingable link, the rod being surrounded by a spring 200 and slidlng in a bushing or collar 20|. The spring conned between |98 and 20| tends to throw outward the4 arm |91 and effect the opening of the lap gripper, limited by a. suitable stop. 'I'he collar 20| is threaded into a swivel socket 202. The gripper closing movements are eiTected through a follower or roller 204 mounted on the rockarm |96 and engaging the shaped periphery ,of a xed cam or disk 205. The cam thus opposes the spring and determines the timed opening and closing actions.

The opening cylinder |50 makes one rotation for each half". rotation of the main drum |45. The cylinder carries a symmetrical pair of grippers 2|0, each cooperating with a seat 2| for the gripping of the non-lap half of the signature. The two grippers 2|0 are mounted on a common rockshaft 2|2 which may be rocked to cause the closing and opening of the grippers. The grip--` pers 2|0 are symmetrically positioned at points corresponding with the positioning of the lap grippers v|85 on the main drum. This enables each gripper 2|0, in its closing movement, to reach into the recess of the deflected signature lap, thus facilitating the proper gripping of the non-lap half of the'signature.

The timing of the closing of the opener-grippers 2|0 is such that they will grip the signature half at approximately the point of tangency between the drum and cylinder. The main or extracting grippers have in the meanwhile opened.

. The two halves of each signature are, from and in advance of each pair of pusherl pins thereof.

'Ihe rocking of opener gripper shaft 2|2 may lbe vby connections including a spring-pressed rockarm 2|4 with follower 2|5 bearing on fixed cam disk 2|6, mounted on bracket 2|1, all entirely analogous to the connections for operating the other grippers, and the cam shaped to give the ldescribed timing, as the gripper and follower revolve around it. i

The operation or method may be reviewed as follows. The different signature supplies are stacked edgewise or upright in as many hoppers or signature boxes, the signatures being bowed for stiffness, except as to a few allowed to become substantially at near the front. Each hopper is constructed for or has means causing frontward travel of the horizontal stack, and a means or abutment at the front to limit the travel, additional supplies being added at the rear at convenient intervals.y At the front the successive signatures are extracted either upwardly or downwardly, through a gap above or below the abutment, for transfer and delivery. 'Ihe preferred actions on each front signature are as follows, assuming upward extraction. The lower edge of the signature is detached or deflected frontward. This edge is then gripped and retracted downwardly and released. The lowered upper edge is then separated and deflected front- Wardly, and it is then gripped and extracted from the hopper. 'Ihese actions overlap considerably, so that one signature is extracted for each cycle or main shaft rotation. Thus the separator may commence its separating action at the upper edge while the signature is being retracted at its lower edge; and while each signature is being extracted upwardly the lower edge of the next signature may be detached for retraction, etc.

By these actions a procession of signatures is drawn out of the hopper and transferred to a delivery point, for example to a saddle-gathering means. Each signature travels from extracting to opening point, its lap half against the transfer means or drum and its openable edgev leading. The extracting drum, cooperating with the transfer tape IE5, constitutes the transfer means. Be-

fore reaching the opening point the lap gripper closes on the lap half of the signature; which might occur atany time after the extracting grippers have gripped the signature. At or before reaching the opening point, but not before the signature is under control of the transfer tapes, the extracting grippers relax to release the non-lap half of the signature. At the opening point the opening device or gripper closes upon the non-lap half, during the transfer travel, thus with further progress to divert this half in a contrary direction to the continued travel of the lap half. The lap and opening grippers release the signature after the opening action is well begun, without waiting until it is finally delivered. The advancing saddle mechanism receives, in each book space, one signature per cycle, so that each group or book is built up of one of each variety of signature.

We claim: l. A sheet or signature feeding mechanism comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise, said hopper having a supporting bottom, a front abutment against which the first or front signature bears, and side. gage members or Walls arranged or spaced to cause the'stacked signatures to assume a rearwardly concave curvature thereby stiftening them to stand edgewise, means for feeding the stack progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, and means to separate or deflect frontwardly each signature coming to front position and to grip and extract it from the stack for transfer to a gathering or' other mechanism. f

2. A mechanism as in claim 1 and wherein the abutment and signatures stand with a slight frontward slant from vertical.

3. A mechanism as in claim l and wherein the side gages are arranged to bow the signatures mainly near their lower portions, leaving their top edges substantially straight. v

4. A mechanism as in claim 1 and wherein the hopper bottom comprisesa supporting member or belt adapted to travel frontward and the stack feeding means causes such travel thereof.

5. A mechanism as in claim 1 and wherein is a feeler displaced Aby the advance of the front signature and thereby controlling the stack feed.

6. A sheet or signature feeding mechanism comprising a-hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise, said hopper having a supporting bottom, a front abutment of less height than the signatures against which the first or front signature bears, and side gage members or Walls spaced suiciently close together to bow the stacked signatures into a rearwardly concave curvature thereby stiiening them to stand edgewise, the signature bowing portion of said gages terminating near the front thereby to release a front group of several signatures to stand flatly against the abutment, means to feed the stack progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, and means to separate or deflect frontwardly each signature coming to front position and to grip and extract it from the stack for transfer toa gathering or other mechanism.

7. A sheet or signature feeding mechanism comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise, said hopper having at its bottom an endless supporting belt, a front abutment against which the first or front signature bears, and side gage members or walls arranged to cause the stacked signatures to assume a rearwardly concave curvature thereby sti'ening them to stand edgewise, means to cause travel of said stack supporting belt to feed the stack progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, with means to coordinate such feed with the extraction of signatures, and means operating upon each signature coming to frbnt position to grip and extract it from the stack for transfer to a gathering or other mechanism.

8. `A mechanism as in claim 7 and wherein the belt travel means includes a pawl and ratchet, and the means to coordinate the feed comprises a feeler in the path of the lower edge of the signatures, and means actuated by vsuch feeler to render inoperative the pawl and ratchet when the stack is fed sufficiently frontward.

9. A mechanism as in claim 7 and wherein the stack-curving side gages are effectively abridged near the front to release therefrom a number of signatures that remain held edgewlse between the curved signatures and the abutment.

y 10. A sheet or signature feeding mechanism comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise, said hopper having a supporting bottom, a front abutment against which the middle part of the front signature bears, and side gage members or walls arranged to cause the stacked signatures to assume a rearwardly concave curvature thereby stiiening them to stand edgewise, means for feeding the stack progressively frontward as the ,signatures are extracted, means oper'ating upon each signature coming to front position to separate or deflect it frontwardly from the next-signature, and a device arranged and operable for entering between such`separated signature and 1 the next signature behind and for at each side repressing the latter signature andthose beyond thereby to retain them in the stack and to relieve the pressure on such separated front signature, to facilitate its extraction.

1l. A signature feeding and gathering mechanism comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal. stack of signatures standing edgewise with their closed back edges down, said hopper having a supporting bottom, a front abutment against which'the middle part of the front signature bears, and side gage members adapted to cause the stacked signatures to assume a rearwardly concave curvature thereby stiifening them to stand edgewise, means for feeding the stack progressively frontward in the hopper as the signatures are extracted, means for detaching front- Wardly the lower portion of each front signature from those behind, repressing means for entering behind each such detached front signature and repressing those behind it to cooperate'in the retracting or extracting of the front signature, retracting means for gripping thelower edge of each detached front signature and pulling it partly down and releasing it, means for separating the upper portion of each such retracted signature'from those behind comprising a separator or finger entering downwardly behind the front signature and deflecting frontwardly its upper portion, extracting means for gripping the upper edge of each such separated signature and pulling it up and out of the hopper,

`and means for transferring the extracted signature to a gathering mechanism.

12. A signature feeding and gathering mechanis'm -comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise with their closed back edges down. said hopper having a supporting bottom, a front abutment against which the middle part of the front signature bears, and side gage members, means for feeding the stack progressively frontward in the hopper as the signatures are extracted, means for detaching frontwardly the lower portion of veach vfront signature from those behind, retracting means for gripping the lower edge of eachdetached front signature and pulling it partly down and releasing it, means for separating the upper portion of each such retracted signature from those behind comprising a separator or nger entering downwardly behind the front signature and deflecting frontwardly its upper portion. and extracting-means for gripping the upper edge of each such separated signature and pulling it up and out of the hopper.

13. A signature feeding and gathering mechanism comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise with their closed 'back edges' down, said hopper hav- .ing v.a supporting bottom, a front abutment against which the middle part of the front signature bears. side gage members adapted to cause stacked signatures to assume a rearwardly concave curvature thereby stiening them to stand edgewise, and a top edge stop member against which the top edge o f the front signature bears. with a substantial gap between the abutment and stop member, means for feeding the stack progressively frontward in the hopper as the signatures are extracted, retracting means for gripping the lower edge of each front signature and lhopper, andmeans for transferring the extracted signature 'to a gathering mechanism.

each front signature bears, in combination with mechanism for withdrawing the signatures from suchseries of stacks and accumulating them in advancing groups upon a traveling conveyor, said' mechanism including means for separating away from each stack the edge of each of the succes- Y,

sive signatures thereof; a continuously rotating transfer drum adjacent to each stack and having a peripheral signature gripper means thereon,

timed connections fory operating said gripper means to grip the separated edge of each signa-- ture and withdraw it from the stack by the rotation of the drum and to release it for delivery to the conveyor means, and movable tape means advancing with the drum periphery and signatures and operating to hold each signature in traveling contact upon the drum during the transfer including the signature travel after release by the gripper, and until final discharge from thedrum for delivery to the conveyor. A

17. A signature feeding and saddle-gathering machine comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise with their closed back edges down, said hopper having a supporting bottom, a front abutment against which the'middle part of the front signature bears, and side gage membersv adapted to cause the stacked signatures to assume a rearwardly concave curvature thereby stiffening them to stand edgewise, means for feeding the stack progressively frontward in the hopper a's the signatures are extracted, retracting means for gripping the lower edge of each front signature and pulling it partly down and releasing it, means for separating the upper portion of each such retracted signature from those behind comprising a separator or finger entering downwardly behind thefront 'signature and deflecting frontwardly its vupper portion, extracting means for gripping the openable upper edge of each such separated signature and pulling the signature up and out of the hopper, means for transferring each extracted signature to a delivery point above a. saddle gathering mechanism, and an opening device operable adjacent the delivery point to engage one half of the signature during transfer and open it away from the other half for delivery straddlewise upon the saddle.

18. A signature feeding and saddle-gathering machine comprising a hopper for holding a horizontal stack of signatures standing edgewise, said hopper having a supporting bottom, a front abutmnt against which the middle part of the front signature bears, and side gage members adapted tocause the stacked signatures to assume a rearwardly concave curvature thereby stifening them to stand edgewise, means for feeding the stack progressively frontward in the hopper as the sig- 'natures are extracted, means Afor separating the openable portion-of each front signature from those behind comprising a separator or nger entering behind the front signature and deect- 75*V ing frontwardly its openable portion, extracting means for gripping the openable edge of each such separated signature and pulling the signature out of the hopper, vmeans for transferring each extracted signature to a deliverypoint above a saddle gathering mechanism, and an opening device operable adjacent the delivery point to engage one half of the openable edge of the signature during transfer and open it away from the other half for delivery straddlewise upon the saddle.

19. A signature feeding and saddle-gathering machine comprising means for holding a supply Iof signatures standing edgewise, with a front abutment towards which the supply may be fed and against which the front signature bears, means for separating one entire edge portion of each front signature from those behind and gripping the-full thickness ofthe signature at such edge and extracting such signature out of the holding1 means, means for transferring each extractedxsignature to a delivery point adjacent a gathering saddle, and an opening device adjacent the delivery point operable upon one half of the signature during transfer to divert it away from the other half thereby to open the signature for delivery straddlewise upon the saddle.

20. A signature feeding and saddle-gathering 'machine comprising a hopper for holding a supply of lap signatures standing edgewise with their closed edges down and their openable edges up, said hopper having a front abutment against which the front signature bears and means for feeding the signature supply progressively frontward as the signatures arev extracted, means for separating the entire thickness of the upper portion of veach front signature from those behind and gripping such upper portion by its entire thickness and extracting the unopenedsignature upwardly out of the hopper, means for transferring each such extracted unopened signature to a delivery 'there operable upon one half of the unopened signature during transfer to divert'it away from the other half by the aid of the lap of the signature, thereby to open the signature for delivery straddlewise upon the saddle.

21. A machine as in claim and wherein the transferring means consists of a single drum in front of the hopper and having an extracting gripper adapted to engage and pull upward each signature by the entire thickness of its openable edge including the lap and to carry it over and down to the delivery point at the front side of the drum and there releases it for opening and delivery.

22. A signature feeding and saddle-gathering machine comprising a hopper for holding a supply of lap signatures standing edgewise with their closed edges A`down and their openable edges up, said hopper having a front abutment against which the front signature bears and means for feeding the signature supply progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, means for separating the entire thickness of the upper portion of each front signature from those behind and gripping such upper portion and extracting the signature upwardly out of the hopper, means for transferring each such extracted signature to a delivery point adjacenta gathering saddle, and an opening device adjacent the delivery point operable upon one half of the signature during transfer to divertl it away from the other half by the aid of the lap of the signature, thereby to open the signature for delivery straddlewise upon the saddle; said separating, gripping and extracting means comprising a separating finger enteringl downwardly between the'front and next signature to deect frontwardly` the front signature, and an extracting device having a glipper to grip the deflected signature and gripper actuating means operating to pull up and out the signature.

23. A signature feeding and saddle-gathering machine comprising a hopper for holding a supply of lap signatures standing edgewise with their closed edges down and their openable edges up, said hopper having a front abutment against which the front signature bears and means for feeding .the signature supply progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, retracting means operating to grip and partly lower each signature by its closed lower edge, means for thereafter separating the entire thickness of the upper portion of each front signature from those behind andA gripping such upper portion and extracting the signature upwardly out of the hopper, means. for transferring each such extracted signature to a delivery point adjacent a gathering saddle, and an opening, device adjacent the delivery point operable upon one half of the signature during transfer to divert it away from the other half by the aid of such lap, thereby to open the signature for delivery straddlewise upon the saddle. t l

' 24. A signature feeding and saddle-gathering machine comprising a hopper for holding a supply of lap signatures standing edgewise with their closed edges down an'd their openable edges up, said hopper having means to hold in bowed position the edgewise standing signatures and a front abutment against which the front signature bears and means for feeding the signature supply progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, means for separating the entire thickness of the upper portion of'each front signature from those behind and gripping such'upper portion and extracting the signature upwardly out of the hopper, means for transferring each such extracted signature to a delivery point adjacent a gathering saddle, and an opening device adjacent the delivery point operable upon one half of the signature during transfer to divert it away from the other half by the aid of such lap, thereby to open the signature for delivery straddlewise upon the saddle.

25. A signature feeding and saddle-gathering machine comprising a hopper for holding a supply for lap signature standing edgewise with f their closed edges down and their openable edges up and their lap halves frontward, said hopper having a front abutment against which the front signature bears and means for feeding the signature supply progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, means for separating the entire upper portion including both halves of each front signature from those behind and for gripping such separated portion by the full thickness of the signature and fdr extracting the signature upwardly out of the hopper, a drum over which each extracted signature is advanced to the delivery point with the lap half against the drum, said drum having a lap gripper so abridged as to hold the lap half but not .the other half of the signature to the drum during opening, and an opening device adjacent the delivery point operable upon the non-lap half of the signature during transfer to divert it away from the gripper lap half, thereby to open the signature for' delivery straddlewise upon the saddle.

nature bears and means for feeding the signature supply progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, means for separating the entire upper portion including both halves of each front signature from those behind, means for gripping such separated portion and extracting the signature upwardly out of the hopper, a drum over which each extracted signature is advanced to the delivery point with the lap half against the drum, said drum having a lap gripper for holding the lap half to the drum during opening, and an opening device adjacent the delivery point operable upon the non-lap half of the signature during transfer to divert it away from the lap half, thereby to open the signature fory delivery straddlewise upon the saddle; the means to grip and extract the signatures from the hopper comprising an extracting gripper on the same drum which carries the lap gripper, with means to close the lap gripper upon the lap half of the signature before the extracting gripper opens, and to open the extracting gripper to release the non-lap half of the signature before lthe diverting thereof, and to maintain closed the lap gripper thereafter until delivery.

27. A signature feeding and saddle-gathering machine comprising a hopper for holding a supply for lap signatures standing edgewise with their closed edges down and their openable edges up and their lap halves frontward, said hopper having a front abutment against which the front signature bears and means for feeding the signature supply progressively frontward as the signatures are extracted, an extracting gripper. .for gripping the entire upper portion of each front signature including. the lap half and non-lap half thereof,an extracting drum carrying said gripper and over which each extracted signature isadvanced to the delivery point with the lap half against the drum, said drum having also a lap gripper for engaging and holding only the lap half of the signature, the

inner part or seat of the gripper being below the drum circumference thereby to deiiect the edge of the lap half and form a recess, and an opening cylinder adjacent the delivery point and having an opening gripper operable upon the non-lap half of the signature advancing on said drum to divert it away from the lap half, thereby to open the signature for delivery straddlewise upon the saddle, such opening gripper being positioned to enter the recess of the lap half and engage only the non-lap half, and said lap and opening grippersA being both openable for delivery.-

28. The method of feeding or gathering sheets or signatures comprising stacking them edgewise while confining their opposite edges to cause them to bow themselves to aiord vertical stiffness, and

causing frontward travel of the stack with a limit thereto, and extractingwertically each front sig.

nature for transfer as to a gathering operation, and adding signature supplies to the rear of the stack as needed.

29. The method-.as in claim 28 and wherein the greater part of the stacked signatures are bowed for stiffness but a numberat the front end are allowed to flatten, each frontmost one thereof being extracted.

30. The method of feeding or gathering sheets or signatures comprising stacking them edgewise while bowing them for stiffness, and causing frontward travel of the stack with a limit thereto,

and extracting upwardly or downwardly each front signature for transfer as to a gathering operation, and adding signature supplies to the rear of the stack as needed; and wherein, in each cycle, the frontmost signature is rst retracted partially downwardly to displace its top edge and released and is then gripped at its top edge and extracted upwardly.

31. The method of feeding or gathering sheets or signatures comprising stacking them edgewise while bowing the stacked signatures for stiffness except for a group at the front end, and causing frontward travel of the stack with a limit thereto, and allowing such front group to flatten out and so partially separate from those to the rear, and extracting upwardly or downwardly each flattened front signature for transfer as to a gathering operation, and adding signature supplies to the rear of the stack as needed.

32. A signature feeding and gathering machine comprising a hopper for holding signatures edgewise with a frontwardly inclined front abutment ture to release its top edge from the stop member and an extractor for pulling the signature up and out by its top edge.

PAUL E. KLE'LNEBERG. PAUL SCHWEIZER. ANDREW W. WILKS. 

